Wheel assembly including tapered wedge gas spring attachment assemblies and related methods

Abstract

A wheel assembly for a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. Attachment assemblies may each include an attachment bracket coupled to a corresponding one of the inner and outer rims and defining spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways, and a fastener extending through the spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways and coupling a corresponding gas spring to the attachment bracket. Each attachment assembly may also include first and second tapered wedges carried by the fastener and engaging the respective first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways upon securing of the fastener.

1 . A wheel assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 an inner rim to be coupled to the vehicle;   an outer rim surrounding the inner rim;   a plurality of gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim; and   a plurality of attachment assemblies, each comprising
 an attachment bracket coupled to a corresponding one of the inner and outer rims and defining spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways, 
 a fastener extending through the spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways and coupling a corresponding gas spring to the attachment bracket, and 
 first and second tapered wedges carried by the fastener and engaging the respective first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways upon securing of the fastener. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1  comprising first and second threaded nut pairs carried by opposing ends of the fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel assembly of  claim 2  wherein each of the first and second threaded nut pairs comprises a pair of oppositely threaded nuts. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel assembly of  claim 2  wherein each attachment assembly comprises a respective locking member carried by the fastener outboard of the corresponding threaded nut pair. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel assembly of  claim 4  wherein each locking member comprises a cotter pin. 
     
     
         6 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second tapered wedges each comprises a plurality of split tapered wedge segments. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an outer ring coupled to the outer rim and extending radially inwardly to define a mechanical stop with adjacent portions of the inner rim. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a tread carried by the outer rim. 
     
     
         9 . A wheel assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 an inner rim to be coupled to the vehicle;   an outer rim surrounding the inner rim;   a plurality of gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim;   a plurality of attachment assemblies, each comprising
 an attachment bracket coupled to a corresponding one of the inner and outer rims and defining spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways, 
 a fastener extending through the spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways and coupling a corresponding gas spring to the attachment bracket, 
 first and second tapered wedges carried by the fastener and engaging the respective first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways upon securing of the fastener, and 
 first and second threaded nut pairs carried by opposing ends of the fastener; and 
   a tread carried by the outer rim.   
     
     
         10 . The wheel assembly of  claim 9  wherein each of the first and second nut pairs comprises a pair of oppositely threaded nuts. 
     
     
         11 . The wheel assembly of  claim 9  wherein each attachment assembly comprises a respective locking member carried by the fastener outboard of the corresponding threaded nut pair. 
     
     
         12 . The wheel assembly of  claim 11  wherein each locking member comprises a cotter pin. 
     
     
         13 . The wheel assembly of  claim 9  wherein the first and second tapered wedges each comprises a plurality of split tapered wedge segments. 
     
     
         14 . The wheel assembly of  claim 9  further comprising an outer ring coupled to the outer rim and extending radially inwardly to define a mechanical stop with adjacent portions of the inner rim. 
     
     
         15 . A method of coupling a plurality of gas springs between an inner rim and an outer rim of a wheel assembly, the method comprising:
 coupling an attachment bracket to a corresponding one of the inner and outer rims and defining spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways;   positioning a fastener through the spaced apart first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways to couple a corresponding gas spring to the attachment bracket; and   securing the fastener so that first and second tapered wedges carried by the fastener engage the respective first and second fastener-receiving tapered wedge passageways.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein securing the fastener comprises coupling first and second threaded nut pairs to opposing ends of the fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein each of the first and second nut pairs comprises a pair of oppositely threaded nuts. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  comprising coupling a locking member to the fastener outboard of the corresponding threaded nut pair. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein coupling the locking member to the fastener outboard of the corresponding threaded nut pair comprises coupling a cotter pin to the fastener outboard of the corresponding threaded nut pair. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first and second tapered wedges each comprises a plurality of split tapered wedge segments.